Space

Large, square door openings make it easy to get into the Golf without
banging your head. And there’s enough legroom and headroom to keep
four six-footers happy.

True, life isn’t as comfortable for a fifth person because the floor
is raised in the middle of the car, but this is also an issue in most rivals.

As for the boot, it’s nowhere near as big as that of the SkodaOctavia, but
will still take a fold-up baby buggy and several bags of shopping
without any difficulty.

You also get a false boot floor that lets you divide the space in
two and raise the load level so that you’re less likely to strain your
back when lifting in heavy items. And there are several useful storage
cubbies in the front of the car.

Comfort

Almost impossible to fault

Even the sporty GTI model is good at soaking up bumps in the road,
while lesser Golfs are about as comfortable as family hatchbacks get.

This isn’t just down to the suspension. There’s a huge range of
adjustment to help you find a good driving position. What’s more, the
seats are supportive and only the cheapest, S-specification cars miss
out on adjustable lumbar support.

The fact that the Golf shuts out wind and road noise better than
rivals adds to its credentials as a long-distance cruiser. And most of
the engines are smooth and quiet; only the 1.6-litre diesels sound a
bit grumbly.

Dashboard layout

Simple to use, but an Audi A3 feels classier

The Golf has rotary air-conditioning controls that make it easy to
adjust the temperature inside the car, while the stereo, sat-nav and
vehicle settings are all controlled through a touchscreen that's
similarly user-friendly.

Not only are the various menus clearly laid out, but there are
shortcut buttons around the outside of the screen that let you quickly
switch between the various functions.

The only downside is that you have to look away from the road at
times to find the correct area of the screen to hit - this isn’t
necessary with the systems in the AudiA3 and BMW1-series.

The materials in the Golf don’t feel as special as the A3’s, either,
but the Golf is classier than most other rivals.

Fuel economy

Up with the best hatchbacks

The most efficient Golf is the Bluemotion model, which has an
official average of 88.3mpg.That’s quite a bit better than the figures
for eco versions of the BMW 1-series and Ford Focus. However, the
Bluemotion is based on the relatively poorly equipped S-specification
Golf, so even if you do a lot of miles, you might want to go for the
regular 1.6-litre diesel; this still managed more than 70mpg in
official tests.

Petrol Golfs are also more efficient than many of their rivals,
although we wouldn’t bother with the 1.4-litre ACT engine; this
carries a large premium over the regular 1.4, yet returns almost
identical figures in real-world driving.

Safety

The Golf comes with seven airbags, including a driver’s knee ’bag,
and this helped it earn the maximum five-star rating when it was crash
tested by car safety specialists Euro NCAP.

It scored particularly highly for adult occupant and child occupant
protection, beating rivals such as the Ford Focus and VauxhallAstra.
However, the Focus had the edge for pedestrian protection.

Like the Focus and Astra, the Golf comes with a stability control
system that helps correct skids. What’s more, most versions of the
Golf have a city emergency braking system that can stop the car for
you if it detects a collision is imminent (only the S model misses out
on this).

Standard spec

The cheapest version of the Golf is the S, which comes with
air-conditioning, front electric windows, a digital radio and a
Bluetooth hands-free phone connection.

We reckon it’s worth upgrading to the SE model, though, because this
adds alloy wheels, automatic headlights and windscreen wipers,
electric rear windows (on five-door models) and an adaptive cruise
control system that keeps you a set distance from the car in front.

The GT version of the Golf also comes with satellite-navigation and
front and rear parking sensors, but this is a bit pricey.

Only the Bluemotion model misses out on a space saver spare wheel;
it gets a tyre repair kit instead.

Our favourite version:

1.4 TSI 122 SE 5dr,
list price £21,750

Options you should add:

Metallic paint (£535) and
front and rear parking sensors (£455)

The verdict9The verdict

The verdict

The 1.6-litre diesel Golf is an excellent all-rounder that makes a
lot of sense as a company car, while the lower-powered 1.4-litre
petrol is an even better choice if you’re a private buyer because it’s
cheaper and quieter. We would recommend you try the AudiA3 as well, though.